Alcohol Abuse and Rehab

Friday, January 24, 2014

It can be difficult for many people to practice alcohol
sobriety while attending celebrations. It may seem that no matter where you
look, you will find people drinking and celebrating with various types of
liquor, and you may feel the familiar sense of temptation to have a drink.
However, if you are a recovering alcoholic, it is important to remember that
even one drink can send you on a slippery slope down the road of alcoholism.

However, as a celebratory or sobriety survival guide will tell you, the important thing about staying
sober during a festivity is to simply follow a few easy tips, each of which can
help you fight away temptation while still celebrating with your friends.

Tips To Stay Sober

Reconnecting with an AA group or its former members is an
excellent way to get and provide much needed support during this difficult
time. Invite each other over and share stories and talk about your personal
successes over temptation. Even if you find yourself struggling just a little
bit, you can call an AA friend and know that he or she will be there for you.
There is no reason to feel alone while attending a party, because for as many
people that will be drinking, there will also be those who will not be.

Depression is not an uncommon symptom of past alcohol abuse.
Even a recovering alcoholic may feel depressed, and for such times, it is
important to keep your spirits up without resorting to alcohol. This involves
starting a hobby, finding an interesting television show, or grabbing a new
book and immersing yourself in the story. If the depression becomes too severe,
then it is a good idea to speak to your doctor about the possibilities of an
antidepressant.

Offer to be the designated driver for people during the party.
This helps in the tremendous way that it gives you an important sense of
obligation to stay sober for the safety of your friends and family. By assuming
responsibility for getting them home, you will be able to hold off on drinking.

Treatment For Alcoholism

Treatment for
alcoholism can be as simple as living one day at a time. Even if you go one
day without a drink, you have made an important improvement for that day. The
days will continue to add up, until you will have gone a week without alcohol,
and then a month, and then a year, and the feeling of pride and self
satisfaction will be more than worth it.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Mixing even light alcohol consumption with Tylenol can do
more harm than any intended good, say researchers.

A new preliminary study shows that using a small to moderate
amount of alcohol alongside the recommended Tylenol do

Courtesy of: www.newsinferno.com

sage can result in a 123%
increased risk of kidney disease.

“Most people take this medication without any input from
pharmacists or physicians, and that’s where the public-health concern is,” said
researcher Harrison Ndetan. “People buy acetaminophen over the counter, and
they also are casual alcohol users, and they don’t know that there is a harmful
interaction.”

Alcohol, Acetaminophen Use And Liver, Kidney Disease

Chronic alcohol abuse and chronic acetaminophen use have
each been tied to liver and kidney disease separately.

“What has not been well-studied until now is the link
between some regular alcohol use and regular acetaminophen use and increasing
your risk of kidney disease above the risk of either of those used separately,”
said Dr. Martin Zand, medical director of the pancreas and kidney transplant
programs at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York.

Results From Large Tylenol, Alcohol Use Study

During the study, data was analyzed from over 10,000
participants in the ’03-’04 United States National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey. Those surveyed were asked questions regarding acetaminophen
use, alcohol consumption and health issues.

The research concluded that neither light to moderate
drinking nor normal acetaminophen use separately
posed any viable threat to kidney health.

However, roughly half of those who combined alcohol and
acetaminophen reported kidney dysfunction.

It is not currently known whether similar interactions will
occur with other types of painkillers.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

As the Hollywood community mourns recent losses due to drug
and alcohol abuse, actor John Travolta is seeking support for measures to
counteract the ongoing issue.

“Something needs to be done about all the artists we’re
losing to drugs, because I’m tired of it,” Travolta said recently.

The two-time Oscar nominee, who’s graced dozens of films
since the 1970’s, said that his interest in the issue prompted him to offer an
impromptu speech at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre’s 44th
Anniversary Gala, asking friends and attendees to take action.

“I don’t want to lose any more artists. It’s too much
already,” Travolta said. “There’s people that are looking for solutions, and
their solutions are drugs and I understand completely. But when you have a
program that is designed to help you solve those problems differently, but more
immediately getting you off of drugs – cleaning your body of the adverse
effects of those drugs, and then getting a new start, it’s not just a detox
program; it’s a detox program that takes full responsibility for the reasons
you started to begin with.”

Travolta’s wife, Kelly Preston has also spoken in regard to
her own struggles with substance abuse, saying, “I’m so different… Now I don’t
drink anymore. I don’t smoke anymore, I don’t do drugs anymore. All of those
come with an ‘anymore.’ I used to do everything and a lot of everything.”

“With drinking, I just decided that I wasn’t always at my
best.” said Preston. “It’s different in that I’m so much wiser. I know myself
so much more now.”

Friday, September 6, 2013

Prostate cancer is a vicious disease found primarily in
older males, which negatively affects the prostate gland – located in the male
reproductive system. A variety of factors have been shown to contribute to
development risks, including exposure to particular chemicals and family
genetics. New research shows that heavy drinking may also play a part

Evidence

According to the World Health Organization, an individual
who consumes alcoholic beverages will increase the risk of cancer development
in later life. Research shows that the risk remains even in individuals who do
not consume enough alcohol to get drunk. Individuals who consume a moderate
amount of alcohol on a consistent basis still appear to incur similar risks.

Connection

Scientists have come up with a number of theories as to how
alcohol consumption increases cancer risks. Some research suggests that the
body actually converts alcohol into toxic chemicals – the cause of hangovers in
heavy drinkers. This chemical is also theorized to cause irreparable damage to
DNA cells, ultimately resulting in a cancer diagnosis. Alcohol can also
increase estrogen, testosterone and other hormone levels while decreasing the
body’s folate supply, all factors that contribute to cancer risks.

Prostate Cancer

In recent years, researchers have located a specific link
between prostate cancer development and alcohol consumption. A study performed
by scientists from Australia and America appears to indicate that males who
consume a mere two drinks per day increase their risk of prostate cancer
development by a whopping 20%! The study also concluded that the risk factor
would increase alongside additional routine consumption.

Learn More

Looking for alcohol
abuse help? Contact Above It All today! With a team of seasoned addiction
and recovery specialists available to address your questions and concerns, you
can count on Above It All for the information and assistance you’ve been
searching for. Call today!

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Alcohol and tobacco consumption can result a variety of
long- and short-term health issues. However, the most extreme risks lie in the
potential for permanent neurological damage. In this entry we will discuss the
toll of tobacco and alcohol on the human brain.

Nervous System

The chemicals found in tobacco products may cause white
blood cells to attack healthy cells, resulting in the potential for disorders
and neurological issues down the road.

State of Mind

Studies have found smoking to result in a decline in
cognitive function 5x the rate of non-smokers. Diminished cognitive functions
may eventually lead to mental deficiencies and dementia in later life.

Brain Damage

Prolonged and excess alcohol intake may lead to brain
damage. As an example, numerous alcoholics eventually develop
Wernicke—Korsakoff syndrome, causing an array of debilitating symptoms,
including memory issues, confusion, and paralysis of the nerves responsible for
eye movement.

Memories

Alcohol’s effect on the brain can be seen after only a drink
or two. With excessive intake over a long enough use period, drinkers will
experience increased memory deficiency.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy places the fetus at risk
for developmental issues both early and later in life. Of these issues, perhaps
the most difficult to stomach is fetal alcohol syndrome; a condition where
children are born with fewer brain cells and smaller brains.